Apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines.



W. E. EASTMAN. APPARATUS FOR.$TARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATiON FILED MAYH, 1912. RENEWED FEB. 21,1915.

1,137,8417. 11116111611 May 4, 1915.

DASH BONED THE NDRRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTD-LITHQ. V/ASHINGTON, D. C,

- rip APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, 1915.

Application filed May 11, 1912, Serial No. 696,647. Renewed February 27, 1915. Serial No. 11,047.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. EASTMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for starting internal combustion engines.

The principal object of my improvement is to enable the operator to start the engine from, say, the seat occupied by the operator.

Some of the further objects are to proride, 1st, means whereby one or more of the cylinders may be separately or simultaneously opened for the reception of an explosive mixture, or for the purpose of having I the contents blown out 2nd, means whereby one or more of the cylinders may be blown out; 3rd, means whereby the pressure in any cylinder may be increased, as for the purpose of moving ahead or back a piston the crank of which is on a dead center. 4th, means for producing and charging a cylinder with, a charge of air, or a charge of gasolene, or a charge of air and gasolene mixed in a predetermined proportion; and 5th, such other means as may be essential to attain the various other objects that may appear hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention and the best mode now known to me of embodying the same in operative structure:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the front of an automobile dash-board sustaining some of the devices involved in my invention. Fi 2 is a side elevation of the valve mecha nisms, feed pipes, blow off and pump, in operative connection with the cylinders; the clash-board being in section on broken line 2, 2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical central section showing gasolene reser-' voir, mixer, and pump, mounted on the dashboard. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the valve containing cylinder attachments. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on dashed line 5, of Fig. 4, exhibiting the internal ducts, chambers and inclosed valve. Fig. 6 is a side view of a crank indicator to show the various positions of the cranks.

A gasolene reservoir 1, Figs; 1 and 3, has a lower chamber 2 from which gasolene passes t gh screen 3, entering a conduit 4 to a float chamber 5, Fig. 3, the flow of the liquid being automatically controlled by a valve 6, the stem 7 of which enters a float 8, the latter being hinged to the wall of the chamber, as at 9. A vertical opening 10 permits a latitude of movement of said float to operate the valve 6 effectively, there being a pipe 11, central in relation to the opening 10 and the chamber 5, and opening into A. corresponding V a mixing chamber 12. stem 13, in alinement with the pipe 11, has a disk 14 at its upper end permanently attached thereto, immediately beneath a cap 15 closing said mixing chamber. In this cap are one or more ports 16 for the admission of air. An index stem 12 connected to the screw-threaded portion 17 of the stem 13, is to regulate the proportion of air to mix with the incoming gasolene; the proportion being indicated'by a scale on the cap 15 to which the indexstem 12 points; and the closing and opening of said ports 16 and orifice of the stem 11 being accomplished by operating the screw-threaded stem 17 When the ports 16 are closed, the orifice of the stem 11 is open. On the contrary, when said orifice is closed, then said ports are open. When the stem 17 is in an intermediate position, obviously, both ports and orifice are open, and the chamber will be receptive to both air and gasolene.

From the bottom of the chamber 12, a duct 18 connects with a pipe 19, which leads into a valve chamber 20 forming one of the terminals of a pump 21. An inlet port 22 is closed by the valve 23 which confines the explosive mixture until the upstroke of a piston 24 permits the rise of the valve 23, and the escape of said mixture to the pump. On the descent of the piston 24:, an outlet port opens against its restraining spring 25, the mixture filling a valve chamber 26, from which it is fed through a pipe 27 to various valve containing cylinder attachments 28, Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

A duct 29, Fig. 5, in 28 leads from feed pipe ber 30 which is closed by a valve 31 through the force of a suitable spring, as an expansion spring .32 in .a cham ber 30'; from this chamber, a duct 29 leads into one of the cylinders 34, with waterjacket 35; each of said cylinders having similar connections with the feed pipe 27.

The valve 31, normally closed, is opened b conta t 9f its stem W th Wipers each attachment 27 to a chamdisk. Each of said disks 38 is keyed to a rock shaft 40, which is rotatable manually,

by a hand grip 40, Fig. 2. To operate these valves 31 in connection with their respective cylinders, either selectively or simultaneously, one wiper on each disk is located so that the longitudinal axis of the wipers lie in one and the same axis which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rock shaft 40 to which the disks are keyed, so that when the rock shaft is manually moved rotatably, these wipers will simultaneously en'- gage and operate all of the six valves 31 connected with the six cylinders l, 2,3, 4, 5, .6. The other wiper of each pair, for selectively opening the valve, must be set, say ahead,- of that used in the simultaneous opening of all of the valves, so that, if a complete revolution of the rock shaft were made, each valve would be engaged and operated by its respective wiper, only once, but at a moment different from that of each of the others. For example, divide the circumference of each disk, say, into sevenths, and start from the longitudinal axis of the wipers employed for simultaneously oper ating all of the valves 31. On the disk for cylinder 1, locate the second wiper one seventh of the circumference ahead; on the disk for cylinder 2, the second wiper one seventh of the circumference still farther ahead; and so on with the disks for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth cylinders. In order that the operator may be enabled to know: the positions of the various wipers relative to their respective valve stems 36, that part of the rock shaft 40 which extends through the dash board is provided with a pointer 46, and the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, so positioned that when the pointer '46 points to On, it indicates that the rock shaft has been manually moved into a position that has caused a set of the wipers to engage allthe valve stems 36 and to open all of the valves; and when 1 points to On, it means that the valve 31 on cylinder leis open; if 3 points to On, that valve 31 on cylinder 3 is open; and so on; and if nothing points toOn, that all of the valves are closed. The op erator has thus complete knowledge of the relations between each valve 31 and its controlling wipers.

That the positions of the engine cranks for the various cylinders may be determined, a star pointed index 41, Figs. 1 and 6, is used, the points bearing numbers corresponding with the cylinder numbers, also designating the cranks of the engine shaft; the revolutions of which coincide with the index 41, actuated by the flexible shaft 46,

Fig. 2, by the commutator shaft 42, gears 43, 44; the latter gear 44 being attached to said shaft, while the former 42 is supported in an adjustable bracket 45 secured to the jacket 35. i

V A knob 47 actuates a draw rod 48 having its refiexed end 49 pivoted to a turn bracket 50, shown closed, which controls a pet cock 51, when it is desired, for example, to exhaust or blow out by air pressure, say,

any dormant residuum of gasolene in the 7 cylinders 34.

I will now describe the operation of the various features of my invention. Let us start with a cold engine. First, rotate the disks 38 to a position which will simultaneously open all of the valves 31'inthe cylinder attachments 28, to permit a flow of gas to all of the cylinders 34. This is done by turning the index hand 46 to point at the word On. The feed pipe 27 .is ready to receive the explosive mixture. Secondly move the pointer 12, Figs. 1 and 3, on the mixer 12, to a position which shows that the air ports 16 are closed, and the orifice in pipe 11 is open to permit the flow of gasolene through the duct 18 and pipe 19, to fill the'valve pump chamber 20. operating the pump 21, the gasolene enters the pump, whence it is forced in a well known manner, under pressure, through feed pipe 27 to the cylinder attachments 28 into each of which it enters through duct 29, chamber 30, by valve 31, through chamber 30' and duct 29. All of the cylinders now have liquid'gasolene in the cylinders, butif a spark'were formed in the cylinder ready to fire the charge, ignition would be uncertain. The next step is to determine what would be the most explosive mixture of air and gasolene,

under the existing atmospheric conditions.

21 is then again operated, and cylinder 2 is suppliedwith an additional charge of the most explosive mixture possible... I Cylinder No. .3 may be similarly filled, by mo-ving 3 to On on the dial, thereby closing valve on No. 2 cylinder, and opening valve to No. 3 cylinder; and operating pump 21. The rock shaft is next moved into off positio-n, showing that all of the valves 31 are closed; and an electric current turned on.

Cylinders 1 and 2 being charged with liquid gasolene, and also with an additional chargeof the most explosive mixture possible, they psi fire and start with great certainty; the original charge of gasolene in all of the remaining cylinders, being enough to last until the regular supply is established from the engines regular carbureter not shown. The method of starting the engine, above described, is to be used only under bad conditions, as in very cold weather, when, were the second charge of very high explosive mixture dispensed with, the engine could not be depended upon to start with certainty.

Occasionally, a charge will explode in a cylinder without moving the piston enough to open the exhaust port, and stop, this result being evidenced by a slight oscillation of the star pointer 41., Fig. 1. At all events, whether the operator is or is not aware of the explosion, there results :in the cylinder an accumulation of carbonic acid or dormant gas or other products of combustion which must be expelled from the cylinder before the cylinder can be in av proper condition for subsequent positive xplosions. To blow out these products from one or more cylin ders, each valve or all of the valves 31 are opened as alreadv explained. The pet cock 51 is opened by operating the knob 4:7 and the rod 49. The pointer 12 on the mixer 12 is moved so that the gasolene supply is cut off, while the air openings are opened. The pump 21 is operated, and successive charges of air are forced into the desired cylinders; the constantly weakening impurities escaping through the pet cock 51.

I have also found that compression of the air by the pump 21, is useful in moving a crank of a firing cylinder, off a dead center. To accomplish this, I move the pointer 46 of the rock shaft 40, to the number of a cylinder indicated by the star dial 41, Figs. 1 and 6, to have a crank just ahead or just behind that which is on a dead center, thereby opening communication through valve 31, to the cylinder indicated; and, by operating the pump, give sufficient air pressure against the piston to cause the crank shaft to turn enough to carry the crank in question, into a position which will permit the charge, when fired against its piston, to become effective.

It is to be noted that: while, from the description, it may seem that an unnecessary amount of time is consumed in starting the engine, the truth is that the time is short, and this method never fails, as every contingency is provided for.

Having described my invention in its best embodiment now known tome and its operation, and desiring to protect it in the broadest manner legally possible,

What I claim is 1. A source of liquid explosive; a mixing apparatus; a pump; two or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine; a

feed. pipe; a duct for each cylinder connecting said pipe with the combustion chamber of said cylinder; a valve mounted in said duct to open and close said duct; means whereby said valves may be operated simultaneously or selectively; means to indicate the positions of the cranks of the engine shaft; means to indicate when the valve or valves have been moved in to operative position; a valve to open or close the free end of the pipe; and means to operate said valve; all being designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

A source of liquid explosive; a mixing apparatus; a pump; two or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine; a feed pipe, a duct for each cylinder connecting said pipe with the combustion chamber of said cylinder; a valve mounted in said duct to open and close said duct; means whereby said valves may be operated simultaneously or selectively; means to indicate the positions of the cranks of the engine shaft; means to indicate when the valve or valves have been moved into operative position; all being designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

3. Two or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine; a feed pipe; a duct for each cylinder, connecting said pipe with the combustion chamber of its cylinder; a valve mounted in said duct to open and close said duct; means whereby said valves may be operated simultaneously or selectively; means to indicate the positions of the cranks of the engine shaft; means to indicate when the valve or valves have been moved into operative position; all being designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

- i. A pump; two or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine; a feed pipe, a duct for each cylinder connecting said pipe with the combustion chamber of said cylinder; a valve mounted in said duct to open and close said duct; means whereby said valves may be operated simultaneously or selectively; means to indicate the positions of the cranks of the engine shaft; means to indicate when the valve or valves have been moved into operative position; a valve to open or close the free end of the pipe; and means to operate said valve; all being designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

5. The combination with the engine cylinders of an internal combustion engine, of a series of attachments therefor, each of which is provided internally with a duct; a chamber therein; a valve in said chamber, to open and close said duct; means for the transmission of a liquid or gas to said cylinder attachments; a rock shaft provided with means for simultaneously or selectively operating said valves; and means connected with said rock shaft, to indicate what if any valve is open or closed; all designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

6. The combination with the engine cylinders of an internal combustion engine, of a series of attachments therefor each of which is provided internally with a duct; a chamber therein; avalve in said chamber, to open and to close said duct; means for the transmission of a liquid or gas to said cylinder attachments; a rock shaft provided with disks and wipers for simultaneously or, selectively operating said valves; and means connected with said rock shaft, to indicate What if any valve is open or closed; all designed to be operated from the seat occupied by the operator.

7. Cylinder attachments for the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, having an internal valve provided with a stem; a manually operated rock shaft having fixed thereto a plurality of disks with Wipers arranged to actuate said valves simultaneously or selectively.

8. Cylinder attachments for the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, having an internal valve provided with a stem; a manually operated rock shaft having fixed thereto, a plurality of disks, each of which has two wipers, one on each disk being so ar ranged that all said valves may beoperated simultaneously; and the other wiper on each disk, being so arranged that said valves may be operated selectively.

9. A receptacle having a gasolene and air mixing chamber; a gasolene float chamber; meansfor the automatic control of the flow of gasolene from a source of supply to said float chamber; a pipe for the admission of gasolene from the float chamber to the mixing chamber which is provided With air ports; apparatus comprising means for controlling and stopping the supply of gasolene; and means for controlling and stopping the supply of air; and a pump connected with the mixing chamber; all designed to supply the pump with liquid gasolene or with only air, or with a mixture of gasolene andair of the desired proportions.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. EASTMAN.

WVitnesses: CHAS. B. SPENCER, C. W. Frrz GERAL Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner .of .Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 1 

